Chapter 153 Pat Myself
ANNA'S POV
So far, so good.
Everything was going exactly the way I planned it.
Guests stood in neat clusters across the hall, soft laughter and polite conversation blending into the low instrumental music playing in the background. Waiters moved gracefully between them with trays of drinks, and no one looked confused, annoyed, or disappointed — which, in my world, meant success.
From where I stood, I could see my dad across the room, speaking with a few of the highest shareholders of Quinn’s Group. His posture was straight, confident, commanding as always. The men around him were listening intently, nodding at intervals. It was a familiar sight, Dad in his element.
I allowed myself a small breath of relief.
If I could pat myself on the back without looking ridiculous, I would.
Well done, Anna.
In just a few minutes, I would give my speech, the speech that would officially announce that Quinn’s Med would now be fully merged under Quinn’s Group. No more juggling separate structures. No more dividing attention between three different business entities every single day. Everything would operate under one umbrella.
At least that would reduce the stress.
I knew I hadn’t been fully present with Dad’s major company since I became CEO. I pushed most of my focus toward Quinn’s Med. It was my baby. The one I built from the ground up. The one that demanded more of my time and energy.
It wasn’t entirely fair.
Dad understood, he always did but that didn’t change the responsibility he had handed to me. Eventually, I would have to carry it all properly. No excuses. No selective attention. Being CEO meant ownership of everything, not just the parts I loved most.
I was still mentally rehearsing the opening line of my speech when I noticed Mom and Dan walking toward me.
That alone made my chest tighten.
If they were coming to me together like that… then Isabel was here.
I felt it before I even saw her.
“Anna, my dear,” Mom said gently as she slowed down in front of me.
Her expression was careful.
“I know things between the both of you haven’t really been the best from the start,” she continued softly. “But like I said, she’s different now. I’ll appreciate it if you two get along. Please… do it for me.”
I squeezed my brows together slightly, glancing at Dan.
He looked just as confused as I felt.
From the very beginning, I had been the one trying to make peace. I had extended olive branches. I had swallowed pride. I had given chances.
So if Mom was saying Isabel had changed, then logically… there shouldn’t be any issue.
I wasn’t someone who held grudges for sport. If someone truly changed, I was willing to move forward.
Before I could respond, I noticed movement behind Mom.
And then I saw her.
Isabel.
Her hands were clasped together in front of her, fingers intertwined tightly. Her eyes were lowered toward the ground. Her posture… smaller.
The first thing that struck me was her outfit.
I had never seen Isabel dressed like this before.
It wasn’t ugly. Not at all. But it wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t attention-grabbing. It wasn’t dramatic or screaming for validation. It was plain. Modest. Soft.
And strangely enough, it suited her.
There was no heavy jewelry, no bold makeup, no exaggerated confidence in her walk. Her entire presence felt… subdued.
Calm.
I searched her face instinctively, waiting for that familiar sharpness in her eyes. That subtle killer instinct she usually carried like a weapon.
But it wasn’t there.
In fact, the last time I had seen Isabel this calm was the very first day I met her before Mom formally introduced us. Back when she looked almost shy. Almost unsure.
“Hi everyone,” she said softly, lifting one hand in a small wave as she came to a stop in front of us.
My mouth parted slightly before I could control it.
Did she just… wave?
For a second, I genuinely didn’t know how to respond.
“Uhmm… you look good,” I said, because that was the safest thing I could think of.
I noticed something flicker in her eyes at my words. It was quick, too quick for me to fully read but it vanished just as fast.
Maybe I was overthinking again.
“Thanks,” she replied gently. “You look good too.”
My eyes widened.
Hold on.
Was I hearing things? Or did Isabel just compliment me?
Dan shifted slightly beside me, and I could tell he was just as stunned.
Isabel then turned toward him.
“Dan,” she said with a small smile, “good to see you again.”
That one almost made me laugh out of disbelief.
If anyone had reason to be angry, it should have been her. Dan was the one who found the camera footage. The one whose discovery ultimately led to her being asked to leave the house.
But she didn’t look angry.
She didn’t even look tense.
If anything, she looked… peaceful.
“For someone who has known you for a long time, I’m surprised you even said something like that,” Dan replied, folding his arms with a faint smile.
His tone was light, but I knew him well enough to hear the caution beneath it.
Before Isabel could respond, another voice joined us.
“Is he right though?” Dad asked as he walked up to us. “Are you a different Isabel? Or the same one we’ve always known?”
The air shifted immediately.
Everyone went still.
Isabel looked up at him slowly.
“Dad,” she said.
And before anyone could react, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
I froze.
Dad froze.
It was awkward. Noticeably so.
Dad didn’t immediately hug her back. His arms hovered slightly at his sides, his expression tight. The hurt he had been carrying since everything happened hadn’t disappeared just because she showed up in a modest dress.
But Isabel held on anyway.
“Dad,” she said again, her voice softer now, “I’m sorry for all this. I made a mistake… and I regret it.”
I blinked.
My heart actually skipped a beat.
Was this real?
I glanced at Dan, and his eyebrows were raised so high they almost touched his hairline. He looked as shocked as I felt.
Mom’s eyes were already glistening slightly.
Isabel pulled back slowly, her hands still lightly gripping Dad’s arms.
“I know I hurt you,” she continued. “I know I disappointed you. And I don’t expect things to just go back to normal overnight. But I’m trying. I really am.”
Her voice didn’t tremble. It wasn't overly dramatic. It sounded steady.
Controlled.
Dad studied her carefully.
“You understand what you did?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” she replied immediately. “I do.”
Conversations continued around us, unaware of the emotional shift happening in this small circle.
I looked at Isabel again, trying to read her properly this time.
Her shoulders weren’t stiff. Her jaw wasn’t clenched. She wasn’t scanning the room the way she normally did, calculating.
She looked… sincere.
Could Mom have been right?
Could she have actually changed?
Because if she had…
If this wasn’t an act…
Then maybe this family had a chance.
A real chance.
“For someone who has known you for a long time,” Dan repeated softly, shaking his head slightly, “this is new.”
Isabel gave him a small, almost self-aware smile.